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A Wolf in Beverly Hills

Posted on: June 6th, 2012 by wmapother 1 Comment

So there’s this war, see, and the people back home want lots of updates, well, they’re a people not inclined to like to wait for things, see, and then there’s this whole 24-hour news network, and they need stuff to fill the airwaves, and well, the whole thing ended making a Wolf into The Wolf. And that’s the story of how Wolf Blitzer became WOLF BLITZER. The end. Back to you at the News Desk, William.

Field reporting isn’t what it used to be….Last week the Artists and Athletes Alliance, a sort of bridge between Hollywood and D.C., sponsored with UCLA a discussion by Wolf Blitzer at the Four Seasons. Wolf covered politics in general, plus some notable moments from the recent Republican debates. Takeaway: Moderators do probably just as much prep as the candidates. Takeaway #2: Journalists can out-politicize politicians. Takeaway #3: Two takeaways is usually enough.

Kudos and thanks to UCLA, and to Artists and Athletes (on whose Board I serve [how ’bout that locution?]), for their ongoing sponsorship of east-coasties venturing westward. Here’s a UCLA article on the evening, including a salaam by yours truly.

Posted in Los Angeles, News & Events, Other Photos, Press, Random

So It Can, In Fact, Be Done

Posted on: April 6th, 2012 by wmapother No Comments

Against all odds, our Washington D.C. politicians earned their salaries and our respect the past few weeks. In a rare show of bipartisanship, both parties got behind the JOBS Act, which scooted through Congress and was signed into law by President Obama today. It’s a collection of six bills intended to make it easier for small, private businesses to raise capital. Among the big supporters is Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, who wrote a great piece on it.

One of the measures specifically legalizes crowdfunding. This benefits sites like Slated, which benefits small companies, which benefit all of us. The JOBS act isn’t perfect, and it will likely see improvements in the coming years. But what a start.

Posted in News & Events, Random, Slated

Shoulders of Giants

Posted on: March 15th, 2012 by wmapother 3 Comments

Being dragged along for the shopping trip: Not priceless. Finding a way to survive it: is.

This guy shows the way. Here’s a link to it, too.

Posted in Funny Like Ha-Ha, Random

Get Thee to a Class

Posted on: March 7th, 2012 by wmapother 1 Comment

(Another in a series of posts to actors. For more check out the ‘Info to Actors’ category at left.)

Actors young and young-ish, it’s dangerously easy to stop growing in your craft. Other performers — dancers, singers, etc. — wouldn’t imagine stopping their training. Why should an actor? I once read that only a week before he died, Laurence Olivier was still in an acting class. QED. And RIP. And…moving on.

Last evening I was reminded of an entirely separate benefit to being in class: the connections you make. On your own, you’re likely to let this asset slide. For a craft so dependent on interacting with others, actors tend to spend a lot of time alone. How many people are you going to meet on your three trails between the fridge, the TV, and the toilet?

So yesterday I went to a party for the premiere of Samantha Gutstadt‘s web series – kileshay.com. While there I ran into Tava Smiley, an acting classmate from several years ago. She introduced me to Gabe Sachs, a writer on – genuflection, please – the cult series Freaks and Geeks. (Yes, it’s on Netflix .) This show launched the careers of people like James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Siegel. Yeah, I know.

Anyway, to wrap this up, after I stopped fanboying all over Gabe, I was reminded of an acting class’s ancillary benefit: friends for now and connections for the future. No actor is an island, as it were. So make the connections and then – especially when you feel you’re falling off the face of the earth – stay in touch with them.

And just so I can squeeze one more lesson from this, I’ll add that it’s also a reminder of the importance of being in not just any class, but a good one, alongside actors who are studying and serious. The ones who will be around for a while and find a way to work. The committed and idiosyncratic. The freaks and geeks.

[This is another in a continuing series of potentially helpful, hopefully practical posts to actors on practicing their craft or surviving the trying. I bear no responsibility for how this or any of my posts might ruin your life, lead you to law school, or make your parents sick with worry. For more of the same, click the ‘Info to Actors’ category at left.]

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